Couple Loses £110,000 Cash Stash After Kent Police Seizure
Huge Haul of Cash Found in Kitchen Cupboard
Kent Police struck gold — and a bit of suspicion — when officers raided a Gravesend home on 17 December 2020. In the kitchen cupboard, they uncovered two vacuum-packed bags stuffed with more than £110,000 in cash. The owners? Martin, 35, and his wife Hayley, 42.
Story Doesn’t Add Up
The Martins claimed the cash was a gift left behind by a relative who died earlier that year. They planned to split the money among family at Christmas. But police weren’t buying it.
An exhaustive probe into bank accounts and income records revealed the late relative just couldn’t have banked that much cash. To add fuel to the fire, some of the banknotes in the stash were printed by the Bank of England after the relative’s death.
£111,040 Forfeited After Court Ruling
The Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate stepped in, launching a financial investigation under the Proceeds of Crime Act. Since the Martins couldn’t prove the money was legally earned, authorities applied to have it confiscated.
On 2 December 2022, Margate Magistrates’ Court ruled in favour of police. Mr and Mrs Martin were ordered to forfeit £111,040 plus interest.
Detective Inspector Godfrey of Kent Police’s Economic Crime Unit said: “While Mr and Mrs Martin were never charged with any criminal offences in relation to this incident, they were unable to provide a verifiable explanation as to where the money came from. The Proceeds of Crime Act enables our financial investigators to ensure any money potentially acquired through criminal means is not used to fund further unlawful activity.”
